Poha

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The credit for this recipe goes to my mom-in-law. Never have I heard nor sampled poha before this. Ever. Another great advantage of an inter-faith marriage. Sharing, tasting and adapting to new recipes, flavors and cooking style – a story that I might divulge in the future 😉 With simple ingredients on hand, Poha is a nutritious and filing snack that hits different taste-buds.

Allow me to introduce you to Poha – a quirky name for a delicious Indian breakfast or snack. Poha actually refers to flattened rice. This is when I referred to Wikipedia for proper lay-man definition.

Flattened rice (also called beaten rice) is a dehusked rice which is flattened into flat light dry flakes. These flakes of rice swell when added to liquid, whether hot or cold, as they absorb water, milk or any other liquids.

A sweet, tangy, spicy, savory dish. You can easily alter the flavor profile according to your liking. Picture this – a cold, rainy morning with a plate of hot poha and a steaming cup of tea. Of course, it’s been days since Florida saw any rain. Nonetheless, weather should be your last excuse for not making this snack.

Vegetables used in this recipe are usually finely chopped. Another great reason to sneak in wholesome vegetables in your kids diet. I am not suggesting they wouldn’t nit-pick, just do what any parents should – finely chop the vegetables. Minutely.

Give samosas a break and try poha today. What’s your favorite delicacy for breakfast, snack or brunch? Any new favorite recipes after marriage?

Ingredients:

1 .5 cups of thick poha (flattened rice)

2 tbsp cooking oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

7-8 curry leaves

2 small green chillies, chopped or slitted lengthwise

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

1 tsp ginger paste

2 medium potatoes, sliced thin

3/4 cup cauliflower florets, finely chopped

3/4 cup green beans, finely chopped

5-6 tbsp warm water

1 tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Garnish: peanuts, pomegranate arils & chopped fresh coriander leaves.

Directions:

Put thick poha in a sieve and wash under running water for 1-2 minutes. It is important to use thick instead of thin poha to avoid a mushy consistency. Keep aside to drain.

fabulous poha, loved the color and idea of sneaking in the veggies for the kids. Its quite tedious to make as some just mash it up, but your poha is looking so good and lovely. I will try this version of urs on this weekend.sonia recently posted..Spicy Lemonade with Garden Fresh Mint

I thought I knew a thing or two about Indian cooking, Kiran, but poha is entirely new to me. Not for long, though! Many thanks to you and your mother-in-law for introducing us to this wonderful dish, which I hope to try soonest. Wish me luck in finding fresh curry leaves, always so hard to find where I live ….Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food recently posted..Chocolate Chip Date Nut Cake

Barbara,
Indian cooking is vast! Poha is a snack dish and I never knew about it till after marriage, so you aren’t alone in this culinary adventure 😉 Best of luck in your quest for curry leaves. You can usually get it from Indian ethnic stores. They are available everywhere. A simple google where you live would definitely yield results. If not, let me know and I can courier it over to you 🙂

Welcome to Recipebox where I strive to create simple & nutritious home cooking. I'm an avid foodie who enjoys traveling, passionate about recipe development, being creative with food styling & photography. Read More